Category: Destinations, Food & Drink

Exploring Ireland the Emerald Island

image_pdfSave as PDFimage_printPrint Page
Irish Pasture

Irish Pasture Land

I can see why Ireland is called the Emerald Island with miles and miles of rolling green pastures; an abundance of cloud cover and rain keeps the island covered in  a luxurious green velvet blanket.

Glenn and I spent 10 days exploring Ireland. We began our Ireland journey in Dublin where busking* is famous and pub crawling is a favorite pastime.

Busking Ireland

Busking on Grafton Street

Grafton Street is alive with the music of the buskers and it is filled with shops and pubs. Of course there are tons of historical sites to visit as well. The Book of Kells and Trinity College were highlights for us.
Book of Kells

Book of Kells

We loved the Conrad Hotel; it was absolutely fabulous. The staff was so attentive and helpful; President Biden stayed there a few weeks before us so we were in good company. I can’t recommend it enough.  The hotel is right across from Saint Stephen’s Green Park and is a must to visit.
St Stephens Green Park

St. Stephen’s Green Park

Our next stop was Galway for a two day visit. Galway is a lovely college community where we met up with an exceptional tour guide, Eva Deegan. The Cliffs of Moher was absolutely magnificent and the zenith of the entire trip. We also got to experience a shepherding demonstration and visited a medieval burial site.
Cliffs of Moyer

Cliffs of Moher

Of course, being a renowned foodie, our trip would not be considered complete without some type of foodie experience! We visited a couple of fabulous cheese making and a whiskey tastings!

Cheese Maker

Our next stop was Limerick where we had the privilege of visiting the International Rugby Experience Museum which will open sometime this month!
The rugby Experience

International Rugby Experience 

Cork, Audmore, Dungarven and Waterford were all lovely, and unique small cities and villages that we visited along the way; all of them are worth exploring.
St Fin Barrs Cathedral, Cork

St. Fin Barr’s Cathedral, Cork

When you see grass fed beef in Ireland, you know 1000% that the cows, goats and sheep are eating some of the best -and likely the most delicious- grass in the world. Needless to say, this makes for exceptional cheese and dairy products.
Cheese Guide
Ireland was a perfect place to start our year abroad. The people we met in Ireland are some of the kindest and nicest people we’ve met.
Galway Ireland

Galway, Ireland 

Despite the lack of sunny days, the Irish are happy, proud, generous and open hearted people who love their beautiful Emerald Island!  They open their hearts and country to many refugees looking for a new place to call home.
Audmore Ireland

Audmore, Ireland

We are heading towards the sun now and I am really looking forward to getting acquainted with my new home – but Ireland stole a tiny piece of my heart – gray skies, cool weather and all. The smiling faces we met brought their own sunshine to the gloomy days and the fog was no match for the joy of the Irish.

* Busking – the activity of playing music in the street  or another public place for voluntary donations.

See more pictures from Ireland below!

Credits

I want to thank my dear friend, Barb Goldsmith, for being the best editor ever and for Cody Polland for all his help and managing and administrating this blog.

Please follow & like us 🙂

Follow by Email
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Previous Post
Our Journey Begins
close

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)